In a joint operation between Iraqi security forces and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, also known as Abu Khadija, a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), was killed in a precision airstrike in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province.
Who Was Abu Khadija?
Abu Khadija was responsible for ISIS operations, logistics, and global financial coordination, making him one of the most influential figures in the terrorist network, according to CENTCOM.
A Major Blow to ISIS
- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani hailed the operation as a “remarkable victory against the forces of darkness and terrorism.”
- U.S. President Donald Trump praised the strike, stating Khadija was “relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters.”
- General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of CENTCOM, described Khadija as “one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global organization.”
Background on ISIS Resurgence
Although ISIS lost its territorial control in Iraq and Syria in 2017, the group has continued to operate through sleeper cells and financial networks. The killing of Abu Khadija is seen as a significant step in dismantling ISIS’s global operations.
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